Wrapper for packages, bales, and the like



Feb. 23, 1932. J. w. CLARK 1,846,584

WRAPPER FOR PACKAGES, BALES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 9, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet l ,f'wz azil i .707/77 W (Yen? Feb. 23, 1932. J. w CLARK1,846,584

WRAPPER FOR PACKAGES, BALES, AND THE LIKE Filed- March 9, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2' Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs JOHNW. CLARK, NEW" YORK, N. Y.

' vvrmrrmtiron PACKAGES, BALES, AND THE LIKE Application filed March 9,1928. Serial no; 260,432.

This invention relates to an improved wrapper for packages, bales, andthelike, and more particularly to a wrapper'of this character adaptedfor use inthebaling or packaging of expansible material such as cotton,

sequent injury to the contents.

having an expansible Wrapper for protecting the contents from injury andso formed as to permit limited expansion of the material withoutdestruction of the wrapper and con- Another object of the invention isthe provision of a paper wrapper. for bales or packages of cotton, wool,and the like, which is provided with pleats or gather's adapted topermit limited expansion of the wrapper throughout portions ofbreakingof the same. 4

Another object ot'the invention is the provision of a wrapper of thecharacter de its extent without scribed which is capable of beingreadily and easily constructed, and which, while-of inexpensivematerial, is very eflicient in use.

Referring to the drawings: 1 1 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bale orpackage of cotton or similar material, illustrating the position of myimprovedwrapper and its position relative to the ties employed forholding the-material under compresslon,

Fig. 2 is a perspectlve-view of a portion of my improvedwrapper'illustrating the form and arrangement of the pleats or foldstherein, i

Fig. 3 is an tion of a bale, and illustrating the expansion of certainof the pleats under theinfluence of the pressure exerted thereon by theexpansible material, p j I Fig. 4: is an enlargeddetail perspective viewof a modified form of wrapper madeup enlarged detail view of a porburlapwrapper.

of a plurality of sheets each of which is pro V I vided with pleats, thepleats of the several sheets being arranged in interfittingrelation witheach other,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective View of a further modified formof wrapper comprising a paper sheet provided with pleats,

' and having a line of adhesive for temporarily holding the parts ofeach pleat together to retard but not prevent the expansionof thepleated portion, and, Y

' Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of another. modifiedform of wrapper made up of two or more pleated paper sheets with anunpleated sheet interposed therebetween. In the baling of expansiblematerial such as cotton, wool; and the like, it has been the practiceheretofore'to employ sheets or strips of burlap for partially coveringthe material, the burlap underlying the ties employed for holdingthematerial under compression and protecting the material from abrasion andinjury through contact with foreign matter during its transport fromplace to place.

In the usual method of forming such bales the raw material is placed ina press with'a sheet of burlap arranged at either end thereof, andpressure is exerted upon the material to very materially reduce its bulkandso com pact the. same as to permit it being handled readily intransporting the same from place to place," and ties or hands arethenplaced about the bale upon four sides thereof to hold the materialin itscompacted condition.

" The use of burlap for this purpose is attended by certaindisadvantages, in that the cost of the burlap is such as to prohibit itsbeing discardedatter a single use and therefore require that thoseportions which have not been materially injured be saved and returnedfor reuse. Cotton, wool and like materials strongly adhere to the burlapand the fibres are forced into the interstices between the burlapstrands and into any tears which may develop in the burlap wrapper,requiringthe expenditure of considerable time and labor to remove all ofthe fibres from the The cost of suitable paper wrappers would amount toonly a fraction of that of the cortil responding burlap wrappers, andwould be sufliciently low to permit the paper wrappers to be discardedafter a single use, while the tendency for fibres of cotton, wool andthe like to adhere to the surface of the paper is negligible.

The use of paper in this connection, how ever, has heretofore beenregarded as impossible by reason of the expansible character of thebaled material and its tendency to expand in the spaces between theties, such expansion being generally sufficient to completely rupturethe wrapper at these points and thus leave the surface of the baleentirely unprotected.

'Ihave found, however, that paper sheets suitable for use as a wrapperfor materials of this character may be provided by forming a pluralityof pleats in the paper, thus providing paper wrapper capable of limitedexpansion between the bale ties whereby the wrapper is able toaccommodate itself to the formof the expanded material and preventrupture of the wrapper.

In forming the wrapper I may employ a single sheet of fairly heavy paperprovided witha suihcient number of parallel pleats to compensate forsuch expansion as may occur between the ties, or I may form the wrapperof two or more superposed sheets which form a composite sheet and inwhich the pleats are formed by folding the several sheets together sothat each sheet will be provided with pleats, the several pleatsinterlocking together to prevent separation of the several sheets inhandling the same preparatory to their use as wrappers. If desired, Imayprepare the wrappers by employing two or more pleated sheets eitheralone or in combination with one unpleated sheet, the unpleated sheetbeing interposed between the pleated sheets or directly overlying theexpansible material with the pleated sheet or sheets located outwardlythereof upon the bale, and I may stitch or staple together the pleatedsheets or the pleated and unpleated sheets along lines parallel to thepleats to prevent any separation of the sheets before their applicationto the bale. If desired, I may also employ one or more sheets of paperprovided with pleats, and place a line of adhesive along eachpleat oralong certain of the pleats which will tend to retard the expansion ofthe pleated portions while permitting expansion of the pleats beforerupture of the paper is effected.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings 1 designates a bale of cotton or the like 2, after the same hasbeen compressed, showing the wrappers 3 located upon opposite sidesthereof and underlying the bale ties 42, which surround the bale uponfour sides thereof. Each wrapper 3 is provided with a plurality ofparallel p eats o. the direction of which,

as shown, is substantially parallel with the direction of the ties 4-.

While I do not wish to limit my invention to any particular form ofpleat, I prefer to form each pleat or fold with a relatively wideportion 6 and a relatively narrow portion 7, since in that way I mayprovide a continuous cover for the bale and permit the degree ofexpansion necessary for the expansion of the baled material. The ends 8of the wrappers may overly the ends 9 of the bale, as shown, or may becut off substantial y flush with the top of the bale as desired. In Fig.3 of the drawings, I have shown the position assumed by the wrapper ater the pressure upon the baled material is removed, when the expansiblematerial expands some what into the space between adjacent ties causingthe pleats or portions thereof to expand asindicated by 10 to wholly orpartially remove the folds from the sheet. It is my purpose to provide asuilicient number of pleats or folds so that the expansion of the baledmaterial will be substantially taken up by the expanding folds and thusprevent rupture of the wrapper.

In the form of wrapper shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, a single sheetof paper is employed, provided with a plurality of pleats 5 extending ina direction substantially parallel with the direction of the halo ties.

In the form of wrapper shown in Fig. lof the drawings, a plurality ofpaper sheets are employed the several sheets being designated by thereference characters 15, 16 and 17 respectively, andeach sheet isprovided with a plurality of pleats or folds which are correspondinglyindicated by reference characters 18, 19 and 20. As shown, thecorresponding pleats 18, 19 and 20 of the several sheets are formedtogether so that they interengage after the formation of the pleats andthus normally hold the several sheets against separation in the handlingof the sheets, while expansion of the corresponding plea-ts in theseveral sheets may take place equally under pressure exerted by theexpansible material.

In the wrapper shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, a single sheet 22 isemployed which is provided with pleats 23 formed therein and comprisingportions 24 and 25, a line of adhesive 26 is applied to the portion 24for securing the portion 24 to the portion 25. The adhesive is such asto retain the portions 24 and 25 of the pleat against separation to alimited extent as tension is exerted thereon through the pressure of theexpansible material. That is, the adhesive retards the separation of theportions 24 and 25 of each pleat, but permits the separation of theseparts before the tension exerted upon the wrapper is su'l'licient torupture the paper. In this way a certain amount of resistance isinterposed to the separation of the pleats which tends to prevent anextreme or too abrupt expansion of the packaged material. In this formof wrapper a plurality of superposed sheets may also be employed withcorresponding interengaging pleats formed in the several sheets, and aline of adhesive material applied to the adjacent portions of the outeror inner sheet of the series. 1

Fig. 6 of tl e drawingsdiscloses still another form of'wrapperwhichcomprises two or more pleated sheets and one unpleated sheet, theunpleated sheet may be placed next to the baled material or interposedbetween certainof the plea-ted sheets. As shown, the pleated sheets 28and 29 are provided with pleats 30 and 31 respectively, and. theunpleated sheet is interposed between the pleated sheets 28 and 29. Thepleats 30 and 31 may be arranged opposite each otheror may be ofi-setfrom each other as shown to bring about more uniformity in the thicknessof the composite wrapper.

The several sheets may be connected together by lines of stitchesorstaples 33,- to hold the several parts of the composite wrapperagainst separation in handling.

In each of the various forms of wrapper shown herein the baleties 4 areso arranged about the bale as to be in substantial parallelism with thepleats or gathers in the wrapper or arranged transversely of thedirection of maximum expansion of the wrapper, and it has been found inpractice that the bale JiQS operate in connection with each form ofwrapper to retard initially the separation of the plea-ts or gathers orthe expansion of the expansible portion of the wrapper while permittinga more or less gradual expansion of the expansible parts of the wrapperbetween the bale ties under the influence of continued pressure exertedby the expansible baled material during the handling of the bale. Theseparation of the pleats or gathers or the expansionfof the wrapperintermediate thebale ties under the pressure exerted by the expansiblebaled material tends to become greatest substantially midway between thebale ties and to'decrease in degree from that point towards each baletie, since the bale tics tend to bind the pleats adjacent thereto soclosely against the baled material that they are not usually entirelypressed out by the expansible material. In the use of the compositewrapper shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings the sheet'oftplain unpleatedpaper also serves in conjunction with the pressure exerted by the baletie to retard the expansion of the wrapper'or the separation of thepleats or folds therein, since it serves as an additional holding meansto prevent separation of the pleats or gathers until such time as thepressure exerted b i the expansible material becomessufficient torupture portions of the plain sheets and thus permit gradual separationof the pleats orgathers or expansion ofthe expansible portions of thewrapper limited only by the restraining influence of the bale ties, the

effect of which is operative to a variable degree throughout the serviceof the wrapper, being greatest at or closely adjacent to the bale tiesand least at points substantially midway between the bale ties.

While I have shown the pleats formed in the wrappers as extendingsubstantially parallel with the bale ties, it is to be understood thatin certain embodiments'of the invention and when certain kinds of paperare employed the pleats maybe arranged to run in a direction somewhat atvariance from exact parallelism to the extent, for example, that asinglebale tie may engage two or possibly three of the pleats throughout theextent of the bale tie, but such variation is intended to be embracedwithin the general expression to the effect that the pleats extendsubstantially parallel with the bale ties as found in the specificationand claims.

While the invention has been shown and described with particularreference to bales of cotton, wool and the like, the type of wrappershown and described may be used advantageously as a covering forpackages of expansible materials generally, and such wrappers may beapplied to portions only of the packages, as shown, or may be modifiedto extend entirely around either four or six sides of the material, andmay be employed in connection with substantially non-yieldingties, asshown, or withcords, ropes, or other suitable binding elementspossessing a greater or less degree of extensibility.

' That I claim is 2- 1. As an article of manufacture, a wrapper for apackage of expansible material com prising two or more layers of sheetmaterial arranged and held in superposed relation to each other, one ormore of said layers of sheet material being expansible in one directionand substantially non-expansible in a direction at substantially rightangles to said first named direction, and one or more of said layers ofsheet material being relatively nonexpansible in all directionsthroughout their superficial areas, said layers of sheet material beingcapable of movement independently of each other throughout substantialportions of their areas.

2. As an article of manufacture, a composite paper wrapper forexpansible material comprising two or more paper sheets arranged andheld in superposed relation to each other, one or more of said sheetsbeing provided with portions adapted to expand under pressure, and oneor more of said sheets beingincapable of material expansion withoutrupture, said sheets being free to move relative to each otherthroughout portions of said wrapper.

3. As an article of manufacture, a cominitially resist-in suchexpansion, and certain of said sheets being formed of plain unfoldedpaper.

4:. As an article of manufacture, a composite wrapper comprising aplurality of 3 paper sheets arranged and held in superposed relation toeach other, certain of said sheets being provided with folds arrangedsubstantially parallel with each other, said folds being capable ofexpansion under pressure, and certain of said sheets being formed ofrelatively non-expansible paper, certain of said non-expansible papersheets being arranged in alternate relation with certain of the sheetsontaining folds.

5. As an article of manufacture, a composite wrapper comprising aplurality of paper sheets arranged and held in superposed relation, oneor more of said paper sheets being provided with folds arrangedsubstantially parallel with each other and capable of separation topermit limited expansion of a portion of the sheet, and one or more ofsaid sheets being formed of nonfolded paper, each of the sheets which isprovided with folds being capable of movement relative to the sheetsnext adjacent thereto throughout a substantial portion of its extent topermit opening of the folds therein independently of the sheets adjacentthereto.

6. As an article of manufacture, a wrapper for expansiole material whichcomprises two or m re paper sheets arranged and held in superposedrelation to each other, certain of which sheets are relativelynon-expansilole throughout their extent, and certain of which sheets areprovided with portions that normally tend to resist expansion whenposiaed relative to the expansible material but which are )able ofexpansion under the pressure exerted by the expansible material, theexpansible portions of said last named sheets being capable of movementindependently of said relatively non-expansible sheets.

7. As an article of manufacture, a wrapper for expansible materialcomprising two or more paper sheets arranged and held in superposedrelation to ca ch other, one or more of said sheet: being capable ofexpansion under pressure e: d by the expansible material, and one ormore of said sheets being relatively non-expansible, each of said sheetsbeing movable inuependently of the others throughout portions of itsextent.

8. A wrapping means for a package of expansible material, comprising alayer of sheet material which is expansible in one direction under theinfluence of pressure exerted thereon by the expansible material andrelatively non-expansible in a direction at substantially right anglesto said first named direction, and means substantially co-extensive withsaid first named layer for initially restraining the expansion of saidsheet material but yielding to permit limited expansion of said sheetmaterial when the tension thereon exceeds a critical value.

9. A wrapping means for a package of expansible material comprising oneor more paper sheets having substantial areas capable of expansion inone direction, and means for conserving the expansible character of saidsheets throughout substantially the entire extent of their expansibleareas.

10. A wrapper for a package of expansible material comprising one ormore paper sheets capable of expansion in one direction, and means forinitially retarding the expansion of said paper sheets substantiallyuniformly throughout the expansible areas thereof while permittingexpansion of the expansible portions of said sheets upon increase ofpressure being exerted thereon by the expansible material prior to therupture of the wrapper.

11. A wrapper for a bale of expansible material comprising two or morepaper sheets, one or more of said sheets having substantial areascapable of expansion in one direction, and means for conserving theexpansibility of each expansible sheet, said means including one or moreadditional relatively non-expansible sheets coextensive with theexpansible areas of the expansible sheet or sheets.

12. A wrapping means for a package of expansible material comprising twoor more pleated paper sheets and one or more unpleated paper sheetsinterposed between certain of said pleated paper sheets the severalsheets being arranged and held in superposed position relative to eachother, the pleats formed in each of said pleated paper sheets beingarranged substantially parallel with each other and with the pleats inthe remaining pleated sheets and the pleats in each pleated sheet beingoffset transversely from the pleats in one or more of the remainingpleated sheets.

13. A wrapper for a package of expansible material comprising two ormore paper sheets each provided with parallel pleats capable of openingunder pressure exerted by the expansible material the several sheetsbeing arranged and held in superposed position relative to each other,certain of the pleats contain ed in the separate sheets interlockingwith each other to hold the interlocked sheets against substantialmovement relative to each other and insure a substantially uniformseparation of the pleats contained in the individual sheets.

14. A wrapper forapackage of expansible material comprising one or morepaper sheets provided with expansible portions formed of parallel pleatsextending across the entire transverse extent of the sheet, the severalpleats being of substantially uniform width to provide a substantiallyuniform degree of expansibility throughout the transverse extent of thewrapper, and means for initially retarding the expansibility or" theexpansible portions of said sheet or sheets whereby a relatively gradualopening of the pleats is insured upon increase in pressure of theexpansible material and the rupture of the wrapper prevented.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

JOHN W. CLARK.

